The Great London Restaurant Review

The list includes some very modest eateries wheresmelling salts. That said, for those who can afford it,
you will not spend a fortune but will still eat well.it will remain a unique experience. Rules 35 Maiden
There are now so many restaurants in London, thatLane, WC2E 7LB (020 7836 5314) Price £49.00
this is just a cross section of those available butRules has been serving traditional British food for
everybody should find something that will appeal toover 200 years and the decor reflects this. To some
their tastebuds and pockets. Michelin Starit is elegant dining, to others it is a bit like an Olde
Restaurants Le Gavroche 43 Upper Brook Street,England theme park either way it is a great way to
W1K 7QR (020 7408 0881) Albert and Michael Rouxsample some of the finest British cuisine and that
set the benchmark for Haute Cuisine for Londonincludes those glorious English puddings. The only
restaurants many years ago and son Michael Rouxproblem is you will need to have the wherewithal of
Jnr is now doing the same. Elegant dining such as thisat least a minor member of the aristocracy to pay
does not come cheap, a minimum price of £60for the meal. If you go to the Tate Modern to feed
each, but with 2 Michelin stars over the door you justyour artistic soul, you will have the choice of two fine
know it is money well pent. Gordon Ramsay Onrestaurants. Tate Modern Restaurant: Level 7 7th
Royal Hospital Road 68 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea,Floor, Tate Modern, Sumner St, SE1 9TG (020 7401
London, SW3 4HP (020 7352 4441) Lunch Menu5014 ) Whilst in the Tate Modern, you should take
£40 7 Course Dinner Menu £110 With a 2the lift to the 7th floor where, if you can get a
month waiting list you will have to plan ahead if youwindow table, you will get some stunning views of
want to eat here and with three Michelin stars, youthe river to accompany your stunning food which
just know the food will be out of this world. Anyluckily is not named after any types of art. The
serious foodie would kill his own Mother to get a seatcuisine is modern European and sourced from both
here to sample the French and Mediterranean dishes.Britain and the continent. Views and foods this good
It is a credit to Gordon Ramsay that despite beingdo not come cheap so if you are on a modest
listed in the top five restaurants in the world, thebudget, you might like to try the cafe on the 2nd
house wine is only £15 although the extensivefloor where children are very well catered for. If you
wine list contains some fine wines at a lot more thanare not too tired then try:- Northbank One Paul's
that. Petrus The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightbridge,Walk, EC4V 2EH (020 7329 9299) Just a quick stroll
London, SW1X 7RL (020 7235 1200) Chef, Marcusacross the bridge and you will find this cathedral to
Wareing has earned his two Michelin stars by servingthe finest provender the South-west of England can
up some of the finest French cuisine available andsupply, cooked to perfection. It doesn't come cheap
that includes in France. The restaurant, situated in thebut after such a meal you will be more than happy to
Berkley Hotel a known haunt of the Queen, is namedpay. Summer visitors will enjoy the outdoors tables
after one of the finest red wines in the world. Youand if you get there sooner you will still be able to
can enjoy a bottle with your meal but with pricesmarvel at the 'Glass Gherkin' building. Don't forget to
starting at over £300 and ending in a wallettake a closer look at the wall paper, it is a modern
busting £12,300, you may wish to try the housetoile that reflects the City of London surroundings.
red at around £15 per bottle, although this mayRed Fort 77 Dean Street, W1D 3SH (020 7437 2115)
be an insult to the magnificent food. Locanda LocatelliThe authentic cuisine of North India has made the
8 Seymour Street, London, W1H 7HT, (020 7935Red Fort a focal point for the Indian food
9088) Although I have not eaten there yet, I mustafficionados. It is the exquisite cuisine and stylish
admit this is my favourite celebrity chef. He alwayssurroundings that have attracted the good and the
comes across a passionate believer in the quality ofgreat. A definite must for any visitor but beware,
his ingredients and the joy of cooking them. I amyou will never quite enjoy your own local take away
sure his two Michelin stars are an understatement. Ifagain. Myung Ga 1 Kingly Street, W1B 5PA (020 7734
Italian food is your passion this is the temple where8220) This Korean restaurant is a haven for basic
you can worship it in. The amazing thing is that youKorean food as the number of Koreans, Chinese and
can dine here for about £30 each and you willJapanese eating there will demonstrate. This bustling
find many good wines at under £20 per bottle.restaurant would be a great place for the novice to
Nobu Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old Park Lane, London,be introduced to the tastes of Korea. Wahaca 66
W1 Y4LB (020 7447 4747) This 2 Michelin starChandos Place, London, WC2N 4HG Average Price:
restaurant was the haunt of both pop and movie£50 This is a real Mexican restaurant that
stars where the tempura is sublime. Japanese cuisinespecialises in street food with ingredients that are
is always expensive so the £60 per person willethical and traceable. Authentic is the keyword so be
not phases the Japanese affictionados. Other Greatprepared to be surprised if you are used to the usual
Restaurants Texture 34 Portman Square, W1H 7BYold tex-mex that has been touted around for years.
(020 7224 0028) The nearest tube is Marble Arch butThe sample menu is a good place to start, just be
if you can afford to eat here you will not becareful of the freshly prepared hot sauces. Dining On
travelling by public transport. Dinner for two withA Budget Stockpot 18 Old Compton Street, Soho,
wine and service costs around £150. Has aW1D 4TN 273 Kings Road, London, SW3 5EN 38
Champagne bar that is worth a visit. This restaurantPanton Street, London, SW1Y 4EA Opened in 1958
is the brainchild of Agnar Sverisson, the Icelandicthis small chain of inexpensive restaurants are still
former head chef at Le Manoir aux Quatre Saisons,providing the capital with nourishing food at
(Raymond Blanc's flagship restaurant) and Xavieraffordable prices. The menu is simple British and
Rousset who was the Head sommelier there. Onecontinental with generous portions. For those on a
can only wonder at the day they both decided tolimited budget this cannot be topped. I have eaten at
leave! The decor could be described as Icelandic cool,all these locations and can attest to the quality as
the cuisine in the nouvelle style and the ingredientsdoes the number of people who you will find eating
are the best. A great introduction is the startedthere. Yo! Sushi MyHotel, 11-13 Bayley Street,
menu which will give you a pointer to your next visit.Bedford Square, WC1B 3HD also at Harrods, Harvey
Don't leave it too long as a Michelin star or twoNichols, Selfridges and many other places. A fun way
cannot be far away and you know what that can doto eat sushi that will not break the bank. As you sit,
to the prices and the waiting list. Daphne's 112the different sushi goes around on a conveyor belt
Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE (020 7589 4257) Priceso you can help yourself from the cooked and raw
£48.00 Another Italian restaurant that has beendishes. A nice, if expensive twist is the water pump
favoured by stars, particularly for the lunch timeat each table. Rootmaster Old Truman Brewery, Brick
crowd and why not, the food is excellent and theLane, E1 6QL If you are looking around the City of
service attentive without being over-bearing. At leastLondon and want something different then this is the
it was when I ate there a couple of years ago. It hasplace for you, especially if you are a vegetarian and if
a novel open space that makes summer dining a realyou are not, then this would be a great introduction
pleasure. Even though they take great pride into the cuisine. The bonus is that you get to eat on
sourcing as much of their produce from caring Britishone of what used to be, London landmarks, a big red
producers, their risottos and pasta dishes are secondRoutemaster Bus, hence the name pun. Fantastic
to none and are complimented by a fine selection ofnoodles and falafel made in the shape of burgers
Italian wines. Cantina del Ponte 36C Shad Thames,make this a truly unique eating experience. Sticky
Butler's Wharf, SE1 2YE Price £25 This is theFingers' Cafe 1a Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, W8
cheaper version of Sir Terrance Conrans restaurant7EG When Bill Wyman wasn't Rolling with the Stones
La Ponte de la Tour, right on the river, overlookinghe started this restaurant which serves burgers, ribs
Tower Bridge with spectacular views of the riverand tex-mex. The food must be good as it still going
Thames which make it an excellent summer diningstrong after many years. Situated in a side street off
establishment. The menu is traditional Italian farethe High Street Kensington makes it a perfect mid
cooked to perfection. I had a pizza which, havingshopping break. Hard Rock Cafe 150 Old Park La,
come from their wood fired oven was just sublimeW1K 1QR, (020 76290382) The daddy of them all,
and the Tiramisu to follow did not disappoint. Thethey set the standard for burgers in London long
food is well complimented by an extensive wine list.before any of the chains opened up London. I would
Bibendum Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RDtell you when I first went there but I am afraid I
(020 7581 5817) If seafood is your passion, this is themight show my age. They have gone global but the
place for you. Opened by Sir Terrance Conranethics are still the same, good food in great
twenty years ago in the old Michelin Tyre Depot, yousurroundings and reasonable prices and you can get
will think you are in Paris as you feast on superb fishthe t-shirt. Pizza Express Although the Pizza Express
dishes amid the splendour of the art deco featuresis a chain, you will not be disappointed by the quality
like the huge stained glass windows. Before you ask,of the pizzas unless you only like yours made in the
there are also some fine meat dishes that are alsodeep pan style because they only make the
cooked to perfection. Lindsay House 21 Romillytraditional thin crust style. They do have a selection
Street, W1D 5AF (020 7439 0450) If you wish toof other dishes available as well. Some of the
dine like a Georgian English gentleman with an Britishrestaurants have live jazz so you can make an
menu then you will do no better than Lindsay Houseevening of it. You are now ready to venture out and
where Richard Corrigan, a rising TV star, serves asample the culinary delights of London, whether it is a
wonderful menu sourced from the best providers.fine British menu or something from further afield and
Pigs trotters or smoked eel salad served in a genteelyou won't necessarily need a bank balance the size
18th century drawing room may have you thinkingof Fort Knox to enjoy them. The top restaurants,
that you will be able to get a sedan chair home. Theespecially those with Michelin stars, may need to be
21st century will hit you at the end when thepre-booked so it may be advisable to check before
espresso is served at nearly £5 per cup whichyou travel, it would be so disappointing to miss them.
would make even the aristocracy reach for their